The hot streak continues! 3 days in a row! WOOOOOOOO!

Artemis sighed, unlocking the door to the bedroom and walking in. Holly was still on the bed, her wrist locked above her to the headboard.

Holly looked over at him silently. Her tears were dry by now and she was thanking the Gods that one of her hands was free so she could wipe away the tears on her cheeks. She sighed, looking at the plate in Artemis' hands. "Waffles?" She smiled softly, pulling her legs up so her knees touched her chin.

Artemis nodded, placing it on the side table. "The big one told me you liked them."

"Butler." She corrected, looking up at him.

He just nodded, "I should change your dressing." He nodded to her side, taking her ankle and pulling her legs down. Holly looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. He seemed quieter than usual and still hadn't unchained her.

"Okay…." Holly stared at him, contemplating as he walked into the bathroom and grabbed a washcloth and more bandages from his bag. She licked her lips, taking a few deep breaths as he walked back over to her with a stoic look on his face still. "Foaly came and visited me."

Artemis didn't change his expression, "I know." He muttered, preparing the bandages to put on her and taking his phone out of his pocket. He proceeded to toss it on the bed, and Holly got the message. Artemis had gotten an alert on his phone.

"Oh…" Holly looked away, taking a deep breath to calm herself from her climbing heart rate. "Are you mad?"

"A little." Artemis lifted her shirt the same way Foaly had before, gingerly unwrapping the gauze around her waist. "How did he get in?"

"I didn't do it."

"I know you didn't." Artemis countered back, his blue eyes flicking up to her. Holly tried her best not to shudder. They were stone cold. "You're chained to the bed. Now, I'll ask again. How did he get in?"

Holly took another deep breath, looking up at him with as much confidence she could muster as he looked at her like that. "He's a tech expert. He could've unlocked the door in his sleep."

Artemis nodded slowly. "And you thought that was important to not tell me because….?"

"Because it wouldn't change anything. You don't have equipment that he couldn't hack through."

Artemis raised an eyebrow at her silently, frowning. Obviously, that wasn't what she should have said. "And why is that?"

"He's just that good." Holly shrugged, looking down and not trying to wear her guilt on her face. She couldn't tell him the whole story - that Foaly had technology that was years beyond any kind of mechanisms Artemis had on him.

Artemis clicked his tongue thoughtfully, reaching below the side table and pulling out a small device. "I suppose this bug won't tell me anything."

"Of course not." Holly looked up at him, "Artemis, why would you bug our room?"

"I had a feeling something like this would happen." Artemis put a hand on the headboard and leaned over her, his nose inches from hers. "Now, would you like to tell me the truth?" He murmured. "I'll find out one way or another."

Holly pulled away, turning her head and looking at the door. "We didn't talk about anything that pertained to his skills." She murmured. "He just wanted to check on me after you hurt me."

That seemed to snap Artemis out of his interrogation mode, and he stood back up straight. He ran a hand through his hair and looked down at the device.

"You really don't trust me….Do you…" Holly shook her head. It wasn't much of a question as it was a statement. "I know you said it, but...I just didn't believe it until now."

Artemis sighed, putting the listening device back on the table and walking back to the bathroom. He left the door open, and Holly could see him turn on the water, run the washrag under the flow, and run a wet hand through his ebony hair.

As Artemis walked back, Holly thought back to her conversation with Foaly. She wasn't worried so much about talking about him getting into the room as she was about Fairies. Did she say anything that would seem strange or untrustworthy to Artemis? Now was not the time to inform him about the secret cities miles underneath the Earth's surface.

She watched silently as Artemis picked up the small box, turning it in his hand without a word. "Did he leave any bugs?" He asked after a moment, still looking at the device in contemplation.

"He didn't even look for any." Holly pointed out. "All he did was rush over to me, check my wound, and ask if I wanted to be let out."

That caught Artemis' attention. His eyes flicked over to her. "And your response?"

"No." Holly sat up, biting the edge of her lip. "I didn't want to leave you. And your trust is too important to me."

Artemis nodded silently, taking a deep breath. "Then I don't need this." He murmured, dropping the box to the ground and stomping on it hard enough to yield a large crack. He picked it back up, now dismantled and in pieces, and dumped it in the small golden basket next to the bed.

"Artemis…" Holly breathed, laying back down when Artemis put a hand on her shoulder, guiding her to do so. "Why?"

"You told me about your friend breaking in before I even spoke." He told her, shrugging and unwrapping her wound. Holly closed her eyes, gasping as Artemis changed her bandages. "And…" He paused for a moment, looking at her before moving on without a word.

"You trust me?" Holly finished for him, sitting up when he was done.

"I didn't say that," Artemis remarked, cleaning up and sitting on the edge of the bed. His hands went on either side of her and he leaned over, kissing her softly.

Holly kissed him back before pulling away, smirking up at him. "You trust me." She teased, her lips grazing his.

"No…" Artemis ran his hand up her side, causing Holly to lean into him more. "I was going to say that I knew what you said anyway." He kissed her, undoing the handcuff on her right wrist and catching her hand before it fell down. "You were telling him how amazing I am."

Holly laughed softly, reaching up and running her hand through his hair. "Dream on." She breathed, smiling up at him.

Artemis smirked devilishly, "Besides. There's plenty of ways I can get information from you without listening to that recording."

Holly looked up at him, getting what he was saying and knowing he was playing around. "You wouldn't dare." She murmured, kissing his neck.

Artemis looked her over, and in one swift move took her ankle and dragged her down so she was lying on the bed. He leaned over her, kissing her deeply. "Try me, darling."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Later that day, Holly was putting on black shorts and a tank top that Artemis had given her. It wasn't particularly cold in Fowl Manor, probably due to Butler being able to control every aspect of the place.

She felt Artemis move behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back to him. Holly sighed, leaning back and looking up at him. "Hey."

Artemis smiled down at her, reaching up to run a hand through her hair, pushing it behind her ear. "What should we do now?"

Holly pursed her lips, looking away as she contemplated for a moment. "There's your old study that we could visit…"She murmured, "The library. The garden. The dojo..."

"Dojo?" Artemis perked up at that, nodding.

"You want to go there?" Holly asked, turning around in his arms to face him. Her hands went to his shoulders and down his arms slowly.

"Perhaps some other time." He murmured, kissing her hair. "I wouldn't really deem it fair for you to spar against me."

Holly rolled her eyes at his whimsical statement, only trying to tease her. "I would take you down, Fowl." Her eyes widened as she noticed what she had said. She sighed and shook her head, knowing she couldn't take her words back now.

"It's James." Artemis reminded her, pulling her closer. "Not Fowl."

"I know," Holly whispered, looking down. "I'm sorry. I just get so confused sometimes."

Artemis sighed, pressing two fingers under her chin and lifting it so her eyes met his. "I know this is tough for you, Holly. But I can't be someone I'm not. Especially when I don't remember."

She nodded, kissing him and pulling away gently. "Why don't we go to the library?" She suggested. "It's peaceful. And on the opposite side of where Foaly and Butler are." Holly paused for a second before looking at him. "But that's not saying that they won't be there." She added, knowing that the two were most likely religiously watching the security cameras unless Butler was doing his rounds.

Artemis chuckled. "I've grown to understand they have eyes on us when we leave the room." He told her, striding over and taking her arm. He pulled her to him, kissing her deeply. "Which is why I think we should stay here all day." Artemis murmured against her lips.

Holly panted softly, reaching up and wrapping her arms around her neck. "And I can't stay here all day. I need to move around." Her wide eyes stared up at him.

"Oh, I can guarantee you we'll be moving," Artemis smirked, backing her to a wall and running his hands down her sides.

"Artemis…" Holly warned, putting her hands on his chest to keep him at least a small bit away from her. "Library."

Artemis rolled his eyes, taking her hands and pulling them to either side of her head before kissing her passionately. He let go of her hands and cupped her face, his lips moving against hers fast and hard.

He pulled away after a moment, breathing a little more heavily than usual. Holly leaned against the wall, sliding down it a little and looking up at him. She ran a hand through her hair and wiped her mouth slowly. "You're...Too much sometimes." She breathed, panting.

Artemis just quirked an eyebrow, still smirking. "I know." He went over, helping Holly to her feet. "Let's head over to the library, shall we?"

Holly took a deep breath, narrowing her eyes at him and pulling away. "You're insane."

He chuckled, pulling her back and murmuring in her ear. "I'll drive you insane."

Holly paused for a moment before elbowing him enough to pull away. "Library. Now."

Artemis just chuckled and rolled his eyes, striding over to the door and opening it for her. "After you, Miss Short."

Holly nodded, taking a deep breath and walking past him. Her body tensed, ready to playfully fight him off if he made a move, but he didn't.

She walked down the well-lit hallway, the soft carpet under their shoes not creating a sound as they moved. Artemis had his hand in hers, but Holly doubted that was a move of affection. More likely, it was just in case anything happened and he could pull her closer to him.

"What can I do to earn your trust?" Holly asked, taking a left turn and getting closer to the library.

"There really isn't anything, Holly," Artemis replied, looking down at Holly. "I never said that I don't trust easily. I said that I don't trust. That means at all."

Holly nodded, looking down. That made Artemis sigh, running his other hand not holding Holly's hand through his hair. "I apologize, Holly. It's just the way that I am."

"I know." She sighed, shrugging. "I'm sorry I keep asking."

Artemis blinked, looking back. His head started pounding. "You...Have a right to...Ask…" He stopped, feeling lightheaded and dizzy.

Holly turned when Artemis stopped, "Artemis?"

"Mm…." Was all Artemis was able to get out before he let go of Holly's hand, collapsing on the floor.

"Artemis!"

Here are my replies to your comments last chapter:

RageCaje: Thank you! And I have a lot of plans for Hawthorne and the others. Love the nickname "murder squad." Never was able to come up with a proper name.

Radiant Arabian Nights & Ioadorifiori: Here ya go! (And thank you!)

Vector Arrow: At first, I was kind of nervous about watching the movie. Once I see actual people in a role I write, I associate the actor with what I'm writing and I feel weird. Is that weird? Anyway, didn't really like the movie for numerous reasons, but still really glad that it was made. And thank you!

Guest: Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked my characters. Hopefully, they'll be able to pop up more later. And Hawthorne in...More that just this story.

Oracle of Hylia: It was, and thank you so much!

Review and I'll write back in the next chapter! If you're a guest, make sure to put a name!